Arne Slot confirms another Liverpool midfield injury blow, Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai injury updates – plus Hugo Ekitike “couldn’t walk”…

Arne Slot has confirmed another injury setback for Liverpool’s midfield, along with updates on Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai’s injuries – plus news that Hugo Ekitike “couldn’t walk anymore.”

Slot provided brief updates regarding the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez, while also commenting on Hugo Ekitike’s condition, stating that he “couldn’t walk any more.”

Gomez had to leave the pitch after just 25 minutes during the match against Brighton due to a muscle injury.

Following the game, Slot shared with Liverpoolfc.com: “When a player like Joe exits the game with a muscle injury, it’s usually not a good sign.

“I wouldn’t anticipate him being part of the squad next week [against Tottenham], but sometimes there can be a pleasant surprise.

“Perhaps now people understand a bit more why I was always careful about playing him too frequently. I assume many thought, ‘If you have a defender, especially a right full-back, why not utilize him?’

Szoboszlai also left the match with an injury, appearing to twist his ankle before being substituted in the 83rd minute.

“It was his ankle,” Slot remarked. “It didn’t look promising when I first saw him, but he possesses an incredible mentality, so let’s remain hopeful for a positive outcome.”

Moreover, the head coach confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong would return to training next week after being sidelined for nearly two months due to a hamstring injury.

Hugo Ekitike “couldn’t walk anymore”

Slot positioned Ekitike at the forefront during the match at Anfield, and for the second consecutive Premier League game, the 23-year-old netted twice.

He appeared lively and posed a constant threat, but he was substituted in the 78th minute, with Alexander Isak taking his place.

After the match, Slot elaborated: “Just before I decided to take him off, there was a moment. I’m not sure what occurred, but I believe he could hardly walk anymore due to cramp.”

Typically, players should not experience cramp with 10 minutes remaining in a winter match.

However, this season, the Reds have faced cramp-related issues before, with Milos Kerkez also requiring treatment.

“What I observe with him, and this applies to all the players we signed this summer, is that they need to adjust to the Premier League’s intensity,” Slot stated.

“All the players we acquired are young, with the exception of Alex (Isak), but the rest are quite young.

“Thus, adapting to the Premier League at that level of intensity – some of them not only have to adjust to the Premier League but also to the Premier League and Champions League – and I can see that they are all making strides in that regard.

“Hugo experienced cramping today, but I can assure you that he exerted probably twice the effort compared to a game at the start of the season when I had to substitute him due to cramping as well, and that is the demand of this league.

“If you cannot maintain such intensity for an extended period, it becomes extremely challenging to win a football match because the best players and athletes in the world compete in this league, and we are striving to prepare them increasingly better for that.

“I can see the improvement with most of our new signings; I believe nearly all of them, if not all.”

As a result of Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, they will not have a quarter-final match this week and now have a week until their next game, which is away at Tottenham on December 20.

Hopefully, the Reds will be fully fit by then, with Conor Bradley’s return from suspension somewhat balancing out Gomez’s injury.